Remember in 2011 we were terrified with videos of orangutans being slaughtered in Borneo? Their lives are threatened because they are displaced off their natural habitat and considered as pests by palm plantations.

Exactly in June 2013, we are shocked with a picture of Melani, a critically endangered Sumatran tiger in KBS with her skin clinging to her bone due to malnutrition. Another animal, a hippo was beaten with a stick until he become too withered to refuse entering his cage.

Recently, a friend Aulia Ferizal sent a picture evidence of a dead elephant nicknamed Papa Genk in Aceh. Papa Genk was brutally slaughtered by ivory poacher. By the time this petition was created, two more elephants was brutally killed and no arrests have been made.

The people in Indonesia have fought for these animals. They initiated protests and appealed the government, such as the Minister of Forestry (Menhut), to be proactive. The minister is aware of the situation, and promised to take the necessary actions. However, nothing significant have improved on the field. It is difficult for the people to ensure if there are any real actions to stop and prevent these inhumane acts, because many government parties are simply cannot be relied to.

We petitioned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and with support from the House of Representatives Commission III, to initiate a National Commision for Animal Protection (Komisi Nasional Perlindungan Hewan) which will be focused to ensure the welfare of wild animals, domestic animals, and farm animals in Indonesia. Every parties (excluding the government and business) concerned to animal welfare will have the opportunity to be involved. We believe a national commission will help the government to design regulations, to provide oversight to activities that involve animals, and to bring suspects to court. The commission will be the party that people can trust.

Let’s support President Susilo to set history by making Indonesia to be among the first developing nations to initiate a national commission for animal protection. Sign the petition and together we create history! Lets speak up for those who cannot speak.